Aptitude Colt Sells for $350,000 at Fasig-Tipton

A colt from the second crop of grade I winner Aptitude brought $350,000 to lead the way Monday during the opening portion of the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky select yearling sale in Lexington. Robert Courtney of Crestfield Farm in Kentucky signed the sale ticket for his longtime client Jaime Carrion of Florida. Carrion, who was sitting beside Courtney, bred the colt in partnership with Dr. and Mrs. Scott Kendall.

Elise W. Kendall consigned the colt as agent. He is the first foal out of the 11-year-old stakes-winning Gulch mare Dancing Gulch and is from the family of graded winner and successful sire Distorted Humor.

"It was starting to get a little high," said Courtney of the price, which apparently represented a partnership buyout. "But, by golly, good horses are going to be high."

Courtney purchased Dancing Gulch for Carrion for $100,000 at the 1995 Keeneland September yearling auction, and she won seven times. Prior to foaling this colt, she experienced a series of production problems.